posted on July 29, 2001 05:28:20 PM
A letter I recently sent to safeharbor and got back some namby-pamby,
generic answer that basically told me I was out of
luck. This happen to anyone else? Something needs
to be done. I liken it to "Diplomatic Immunity." Very frustrating.
<<<Hello,
Troublesome eBay bidder "xyz" is a
constant abuser of the eBay community. He won my auction #xyz for
an item worth $135 on 6/14--even had the nerve to
end it using the "Buy It Now" option--yet refused to pay (I've already
gone through the entire process of NPB alert, FVF
refund, feedback--plus I've emailed him numerous times). He's wasted
my time and money. And then when I try to see what
other auctions he's bidding on so I can warn other sellers, I get this
warped message that says something about "German
Privacy Laws..." --so I'm unable to warn the other sellers, and sure
enough, he goes and stiffs three other sellers
garnering three more negs. How screwed up is that? The notice about the
German privacy laws also stated that if I wanted
to find out his bidding history, that I'd have to contact him
directly!!! What
kind of sense does that make? He ignored my emails
for payment, stiffed me for $135, yet he's going to willingly give me
that information?! PLEASE! Also, when I got his
contact information (don't know why I even entertained the idea of
calling
this loser), of course the number is in Germany.
What? So now I'm going to add $10+ for an overseas phone call to my
other losses? If he's bidding on American
auctions, why don't American privacy laws apply? PLEASE EXPLAIN. Why
isn't
he only allowed to bid on German auctions? Why are
some of his feedback comments in German? This whole situation
SMACKS of some misinterpreted international laws
gone awry.
Since he has four negatives, shouldn't he be
suspended according to eBay's own rules and regulations? I'm sure the
other
three disinfranchised sellers would agree. In any
language he's a smug and habitual DEADBEAT that makes me question
eBay policies. Why is he still allowed to make
sellers lives miserable on eBay? I've emailed the other sellers and 2 of
them have applied for FVF refunds. Mine makes 3.
According to eBay's own rules, he should absolutely be SUSPENDED!
posted on July 29, 2001 08:50:09 PM
Hi, as far as I know pulling somebody's contact info on eBay.de (Germany) is not possible. Generally you do get it in eBay's EOA notice, but that doesn't work for BIN (which this buyer seems to "specialize" in - hmm, wonder why)
Also - even a German seller would have to be in a transaction with that bidder to be able to find out anything.
posted on July 29, 2001 09:05:04 PM
I had to cancel an auction with a German buyer that kept insisting that I lie on the customs form. When I initially had a hard tome contacting him I found as well that I couldn't pull his contact info. If we as Americans have to be subject to wacky German privacy laws they shouldn't be allowed to see anyone else's bidding history or user info either. In fact their user IDs should be followed by a special symbol (perhaps a German Flag) so that sellers have the choice of cancelling their bids, or eBay should offer sellers a preference that can be set to auto-block bids from countries with such laws.
I'm all for International business, but fair is fair.
posted on July 30, 2001 01:11:37 AM
Surely this bidder is a mega deadbeat in any language, and being able to find out his details would mean absolutely nothing to him. I think it is a mute point with this kind of offender.
You could phone him or write to him, but he still would not pay you, I bet.
In this respect he is the same as any seriously dishonest person who is a couple of states away, isn't he?
(BTW I don't think Ebay verifies contact details anyway??? So you could make up all your details if you are dishonest.)
I understand it is very frustrating, and I am sorry that this kind of person is allowed to continue on Ebay. I agree he should be extinguished!!
(Out of interest, ALL my deadbeat bidders have come from the same country, so far.)
posted on July 30, 2001 02:03:46 AM
lorikeet: which country would that be? Not the US?
As for the person that initiated the thread:
I am german and would like to help you out - at least with the feedback-portion. If you like you can post your email address. I will see what I can do trying to interpret this person's feedback to you.
posted on July 30, 2001 05:34:51 AM
I also agree with you, that it is not right for us not to be able to see info on the Buyer.
But if you want to check his feedback, you could use a translation program like I do
and you will be able to read everything that is said in his feedback. If you need the link I will send it to you.
Also, if you are planing to leave a Neg. write it in English, and in German. So this way most would know, he is a deadbeat buyer.
If you spend too much time with this one transaction, it will only take you away from your other important work, so you did your
fee filing with Ebay, already so now, Leave him his Neg. feedback and continue with your life.
Spending too much time with a person like this is not were your concentration should be.
